Pork withdrawl- contamination

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland tonight recalled all pork products produced since September 1st.

In a statement released today, the FSAI announced 'laboratory results of animal feed and pork fat samples obtained this afternoon by the FSAI confirmed the presence of dioxins. Consequently, the FSAI is requiring the food industry to recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland'.

The FSAI revealed pork products on a number of farms were found to have up to 200 times more dioxins in them than the safe limits set down. Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. It is illegal for dioxins above set levels to be in food products.

Speaking on RTE's Nine News this evening, Irish Farmers Assocation President Padraig Walshe said the problem was 'very isolated' as the contaminated feed was made by one small processor. He added that the safe pork products would likely be back on supermarket shelves by the middle of the week.

The public have been advised to discard any pork products in their fridge and to refrain from eating pork products at eateries for the time being. Pork products include pork chops, bacon, ham (fresh and packaged) and sausages.

Irishtimes.com this evening reported 'Rod Evans, a spokesman for the FSAI, told irishtimes.com that the health risks were likely to be “very small” and said a short period “of higher level exposure to the dioxins is unlikely to have any health consequences'.